Equal

ByHal Hammons

Eugene V. Debs, the legendary Socialist leader, once mocked in an editorial the notion that a common railroad worker such as Debs once was could be “equal” to the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who got his start with $2 million in the bank. “If a locomotive fireman could work 4,444 years, 300 days each year, at $1.50 per day, he would be in position to bet Mr. Vanderbilt $2.50 that all men are born equal.”

Firstly, it’s no wonder Debs was so effective in his day with wordplay such as that.  Secondly, it’s “created equal,” not “born equal.” 

Kolaches and the body of Christ

ByHal Hammons

I love my life in Florida.  But I must say, trips back to Texas remind me of what I have left behind.  Bluebonnets in March, and prickly pear flowers in May.  Beef brisket barbecue so good that is actually better without sauce.  Two dozen varieties of peppers in your local grocery store.  Mexican food that is worth eating.

 But one of the least-appreciated Texas delights is a pastry called a kolache.

Candidate

ByHal Hammons

I know it’s the eleventh hour and all that, but I may have found my presidential candidate.  I found an envelope pushed under the church’s front door with “To Pastor” scrawled on the envelope.  After bemoaning yet another abuse of the Biblical term “pastor” (Ephesians 4:11 — a church overseer, not an evangelist or a teacher, terms which are noted separately), I opened it up.